Reviewed by Valerie

TITLE: Drax

AUTHOR: Annabella Stone

SERIES: Tags of Honor #3

PUBLISHER: Self Published

LENGTH: 332 pages

RELEASE DATE: May 21, 2020

BLURB:

Drax Mitchell had been one of the rising stars in Delta Force, when a yearlong mission undercover behind enemy lines, cost him the friend he always swore to protect. Or so he thought. Recruited by his friend’s former Navy Seal commander, to Red Squadron, a JSOC Task Force. Drax and Roman are reunited to cause havoc all over the Middle East. After multiple deployments and dangerous missions, Drax is forced to take his accrued leave, he heads to the one place he has felt most at home. Zurich.

Noah Sinclair only wanted a quiet drink in his local bar. Overhearing a plot to kidnap the hot dude drinking in the corner, spurred him into action. That conversation in Pashto convinces him these people are looking for revenge. A closer look at their target and Noah knows he will leave no stone unturned to keep his man safe. Even if it means kidnapping him himself. After all life debts should always be paid in full… right?

Take a vacation they said… It will be fun… they said. Drax can tell you fun is NOT on the freaking agenda. Especially as he races through Europe with a damn terrorist on his heels. Can he survive the hunt, and save the most important prize of his life? Noah… the man who ties him up in knots and makes his heart beat just a little bit faster.

REVIEW:

A military special forces or black ops theme is among my favorite MM themes and few do it as well as Annabella Stone. Her books are like action adventure films with their fantastical car chases and stunt scenes, and sexy heroes who save the day while falling in love. Add in one of the best chosen-family casts – full of brotherly love and cutting humor – and you have Drax, the third novel in the Tags of Honor series. While I didn’t like Drax quite as much as Zenko or Noble, it’s more than a worthy read. 

Drax follows titular character Drax Mitchell – Ambra Two of Red Squadron black ops team – as he’s on forced leave in Zurich, Switzerland. When Noah Sinclair overhears a plot to kidnap Drax, he warns him and they make their getaway in the first extended action sequence. During this time, Drax realizes Noah has a connection to his deceased twin brother. Part of their escape included traveling through the actual Postojna caves in Slovenia. I always enjoy when real locales are incorporated into a book, and this one is fascinating. Drax and Noah also recognize their attraction to each other during this time.  

In the beginning of the book, Drax amusingly argues with a sarcastic voice in his head which we find out represents his dead twin, Rexar. It’s been years since he was lost to terrorists and Drax is still looking over his shoulder for Rexar. It’s a clever device that incorporates snark into the story because who doesn’t like some good snark? 

The pace is appropriately up and down and up again as the two action sections bookend the down time spent with the Red Squadron brothers at a safe house. This time provides plenty of comic relief as all the men bicker and banter and razz each other. This is also where the sexy time fits in, and it’s plenty steamy. The camaraderie among this chosen family nearly jumps off the page. The warm relationships of the group are among the best in the genre. I particularly like the action sequence at the end of the book as it’s an extraction involving the entire team. 

There are a few too many coincidences for my liking but I was able to overlook them. I was also irked by the numerous editing errors and the lack of contractions, at times, which broke up the cadence in my head while reading silently.

There’s a great plot twist that most readers could probably see coming long before I did, but I tend to stay in the moment when reading instead of thinking ahead.   

Ms. Stone’s world building is excellent, as usual. Drax and Noah are well-developed characters who are enjoyable to read about. Drax is fiercely protective of his own, as seems to be the Red Squadron way. Drax and Noah have good chemistry, but I don’t think it’s as strong as between Zenko and Shaun, and Noble and Max. That may just be my personal preference for the alpha/alpha dynamic in those two couplings, though. There’s an odd nod to a half-hearted Dom/sub relationship, but only with the names they use for each other. 

Like a suspense flick, it doesn’t really matter if it’s within the bounds of possibility; the point is the entertainment value, and Drax has more than enough bang for the buck. I rate it at 4.5 hearts/stars.

RATING: 

BUY LINK:

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